Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleConservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the federal government to end all taxes on diesel and cut wasteful spending ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s budget, due Thursday, according to Global News Canada.
Poilievre spoke at a news conference Sunday. He said Conservatives want spending cuts to bring down deficits, inflation and taxes “so Canadians can afford a good life.”
Deficit and debt figures
Poilievre pointed to data from the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), which projected $733 billion in additional debt over the next five years.
That projection includes a deficit of $63.3 billion in the 2026-27 fiscal year. The PBO’s June outlook had forecast a deficit of $71.8 billion for that year.
The PBO has also predicted that the government will not meet its fiscal anchor of keeping the deficit-to-GDP ratio declining. The office expects that measure to rise in 2027-28 and 2029-30.
Poilievre urged Carney to “keep your promised debt anchors” and to reduce the deficit until the budget is balanced. He said the budget should be judged against the prime minister’s promise to Canadians.
What the Conservatives are asking for
In a letter to Carney, Poilievre asked the government to reduce the cost of government. He said this should include:
- cutting bureaucracy;
- cutting wasteful foreign aid; and
- cancelling the ALTO high-speed rail project between Toronto and Quebec City.
The leader of the official opposition also called for federal taxes on diesel to be eliminated until Canada Day. He asked Ottawa to suspend the GST on fuel until summer and to scrap what he called the Fuel Standard Tax.
Budget theme and trade talks
Earlier this week, the federal government released the title and theme of the budget. Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne’s office said the theme reflects a period of “profound change and uncertainty.”
The budget is titled “MASTERS OF OUR DESTINY: BUDGET 2026.” Champagne’s office said it was inspired by the 1962 Quebec election campaign of then-premier Jean Lesage. The office said the slogan was a defining expression during a moment of profound change and uncertainty, as the Lesage government planned to build up hydroelectric resources and institutions to support the economy.
The budget comes as Carney’s government continues to rework Canada’s economy and trade relationships to reduce reliance on the United States, amid ongoing tariffs and trade tensions.
On Sunday, as Poilievre set out his demands, Carney released a statement saying he had a “good conversation” with U.S. President Donald Trump. He said teams from both countries would work in the coming weeks toward a “mutually beneficial” trade deal.
Source: Global News Canada
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
